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Exploring the co-exposure effects of environmentally relevant microplastics and an estrogenic mixture on the metabolome of the Sydney rock oyster
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Researchers exposed Sydney rock oysters to microplastics and estrogen-like chemicals together, mimicking conditions found near wastewater treatment plant outflows. While the oysters showed no visible physical changes, their internal metabolism was significantly disrupted, with changes varying by tissue type and sex. Since oysters are a common food source, these hidden metabolic effects could have implications for seafood quality and the transfer of pollutants to humans.
In aquatic environments the concurrent exposure of molluscs to microplastics (MPs) and estrogens is common, as these pollutants are frequently released by wastewater treatment plants into estuaries. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the independent and co-exposure impacts of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) at environmentally relevant concentrations on polar metabolites and morphological parameters of the Sydney rock oyster. A seven-day acute exposure revealed no discernible differences in morphology; however, significant variations in polar metabolites were observed across oyster tissues. The altered metabolites were mostly amino acids, carbohydrates and intermediates of the Kreb's cycle. The perturbation of metabolites were tissue and sex-specific. All treatments generally showed an increase of metabolites relative to controls - a possible stimulatory and/or a potential hormetic response. The presence of MPs impeded the exposure of adsorbed and free EEDCs potentially due to the selective feeding behaviour of oysters to microplastics, favouring algae over similar-sized PE-MPs, and the formation of an eco/bio-corona involving faeces, pseudo-faeces, natural organic matter, and algae.
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Lipidomic alterations in oysters caused by environmentally relevant exposure to microplastics and estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals
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Researchers examined how environmentally relevant exposure to microplastics and estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals affected lipid profiles in oysters. The study found that estrogens were more bioavailable than microplastics in oysters, and that the amplification of endocrine disruptor effects by smooth-surfaced polyethylene microplastics was relatively low in molluscs.
Microplastics and 17α Ethinylestradiol: How Do Different Aquatic Invertebrates Respond to This Combination of Contaminants?
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Researchers tested how microplastics combined with the synthetic hormone ethinylestradiol, a common contraceptive ingredient found in wastewater, affect two tropical estuarine species: oysters and crabs. They found that microplastics carrying the hormone increased toxic effects compared to either pollutant alone, causing oxidative stress and cellular damage across multiple organs. The study suggests that the combination of microplastics and hormone pollutants in waterways may pose greater risks to aquatic life than previously recognized.
The Combined Effects of Cadmium and Microplastic Mixtures on the Digestion, Energy Metabolism, Oxidative Stress Regulation, Immune Function, and Metabolomes in the Pearl Oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii)
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Researchers studied the combined effects of cadmium and microplastics on pearl oysters, measuring impacts on digestion, energy use, immune function, and metabolism. They found that co-exposure to both pollutants caused more severe damage than either alone, disrupting the oysters' antioxidant defenses and metabolic processes. The study highlights the compounding threat that metal and microplastic pollution together pose to marine shellfish.
Disruption of energy metabolism in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) by co-exposure to aged microplastics and pathogenic Vibrio spp.
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Scientists found that when oysters are exposed to both aging microplastics and harmful bacteria (Vibrio) commonly found in seawater, the plastic particles act like tiny rafts that carry extra bacteria into the oysters, causing more damage and stress than either problem alone. This double threat disrupted the oysters' energy use so much that they made fewer eggs and sperm, threatening their ability to reproduce and sustain populations. Since oysters and other shellfish are a major food source for people, this research is an early warning sign that combined pollution stressors could impact seafood supplies and the marine ecosystems we depend on.
Do microplastics and pharmaceuticals interactively affect mussels? An insight into uptake, tissue distribution and metabolomic profiles
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This study investigated how combined exposure to microplastics and pharmaceutical compounds affects mussels, examining uptake into tissues, distribution across organs, and changes to metabolism. Interactions between the two pollutants produced different effects than either alone, complicating risk assessment for real-world contamination scenarios. The findings highlight the importance of studying multiple pollutants together.
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